Mr. Gerald Lloyd Corey's Obituary
Gerald (Gary) Lloyd Corey, 98, of Richardson, Texas passed away peacefully on September 3, 2023, at home with his family.
An ordinary life for an extraordinary man. Gary was born on November 22, 1924, in Prescott, Iowa to Alden Clifford Corey and Mary Ann (Looney) Corey. He was the second oldest of 3 sons. After high school graduation, he joined the US Army in April 1943. Gary saw combat during World War II as a member of the 193rd Glider Infantry Regiment (now the 194th GIR) and the 17th Airborne, and later 82nd Airborne. During the Battle of the Bulge, he was injured by shrapnel and received a Purple Heart. He returned home to Iowa in January 1946.
Gary went to Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa then transferred to Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While at Buena Vista, Gary played multiple sports. He was known as the “Greenfield Flash” and was named MVP of the basketball team his senior year. After college, Gary spent two years playing semi-pro baseball.
Gary married Patricia Anne Fitzgerald of Fonda, Iowa on May 10, 1951, in Worthington, Minnesota. The couple moved to Fairfax, Iowa and had six children: Nancie, Jill, Scott, Tracy, Kelly and Lynne. The family moved to Richardson, Texas on April 1, 1963, when Gary was transferred from Cedar Rapids to the Richardson facility of Collins Radio, later known as Rockwell International.
Gary worked 30 years for Collins Radio/Rockwell International as an Inventory Control Manager and retired in 1985.
His passion was sports and he excelled at every sport he played. He enjoyed playing baseball, basketball, pool, bowling, golf (achieving two hole-in-ones), watching Iowa Hawkeye football, the Texas Rangers and horse racing. Gary also spent many hours watching his grandchildren play sports. He enjoyed the large family holiday gatherings at his home, especially handing out cash for Christmas. Gary was a member of Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Richardson for 60 years.
Gary is survived by his daughters Jill (Lew) Shrier, Tracy (Russell) Harbison, Kelly Corey and Lynne Corey and son Scott (Deana) Corey; 15 grandchildren Dane Oviatt, Dana Thornburg, Justin Shrier, Michael Corey, Megan Milkavich, John Shrier, Devin Shrier, Shelby LeRoy, Ashlee McCormick, Dillon Murray, Joseph Shrier, Garrett Murray, Shaye Murray, Callie Corey and Katie Corey; and 9 great grandchildren Easton Thornburg, Carson Pope, Gage Corey, Jace Thornburg, Jackson Shrier, Casen Corey, Tatum LeRoy, Reagan Milkavich, Wyatt LeRoy, Gemma Milkavich and Kyler McCormick.
Gary is proceeded in death by his parents, his wife Patricia Corey and daughter Nancie Corey; brothers Otis Corey and Robert Corey; and son-in-law Rob Queen.
Funeral visitation will be Friday, September 15 from 6:30-8:00 pm at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas, TX. Funeral Mass will be Saturday, September 16 at 11:00 am at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Richardson, TX. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wreaths Across America at https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
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